- BGG rank
- BGG #30,704
- BGG rating
- 4.6
Life on the Farm Board Game
- 2–6 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 1996
- BGG rank
- BGG #19,638
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Yellowstone
1985
Rules assistance for Yellowstone
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 90–120 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.8/5
Rules assistant for Yellowstone
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Yellowstone is a board game released in 1985 for 2–4 players, 90–120 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Rick Shipley, Ellsworth Boyd, and Cathy Boyd and its main mechanics are Action Points.
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About the game
The eternal turning of the seasons has come full cycle once again. Spring in the hight country enters with a wash of fresh green and the warming chinook, while the show still lies deep on the mountain peaks. As the snow recedes, wild flowers of every hue splash across the lush meadows of the Northern Rockies. The small life in burrow and den creep forth, the birds sing loudly in the pines. Spring is the true beginning of the new year in the awakening wilderness of the Yellowstone. The old buck raises his head and turns his gaze to the horizon. The time has come - now to lead the herd to the summer pasture where the bounty of this land will drive away the hunger of winter past. But other animals have come forth from their dens with the spring - the coyote, grizzly bear, mountain lion, and the deadliest predator of all - Man. The natural dangers of this magnificent, rugged land loom ahead. Yet the herd, to prosper, must take to the well-worn trail, seeking to cross the migratory paths of the other grazing masses. As the young gambol and explore, every instinct of the old buck must be devoted to the trek. Without hesitation, he takes the first step toward the future. Yellowstone is a less complex game dealing with moving your herd from Winter Pasturage to Summer Pasturage back to Winter Pasturage. Players control one of the following herds: bison, elk, sheep, or mule deer. Along the way, you try to pick up Food Points and avoid predators. You can move the animals in your herd a certain number of hexes in a turn; males are the fastest, females are a bit slower, babies are really slow and should be accompanied by females. However, when you finally get back to Winter Range, you score more for babies and females than you do for males -- so you may find it necessary to sacrifice a male or two to predators. Predators are controlled by your opponents, but you get to control them on your turn. They are not major threats, but inducement to keep moving. Collect those food points! You'll need them for winter. The game's map centers on the Yellowstone Park area and some of the land south of there.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- The Avalon Hill Game Co
Questions and answers
Yellowstone supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Yellowstone is 90–120 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Yellowstone for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Yellowstone has a complexity rating of 1.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Yellowstone belongs to these categories: Animals, Racing, and Farming. Its main mechanics are Action Points. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Yellowstone are: Rick Shipley, Ellsworth Boyd, and Cathy Boyd. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Yellowstone as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.